Evaluation and comparison of simulation tools for insect-inspired drone design

This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation and comparison of simulation tools for the design and analysis of insectinspired drones. The development of biomimetic aerial vehicles that replicate the remarkable flight capabilities of insects requires specialized computational approaches capable of accurately modeling complex aerodynamic phenomena, flexible wing structures, and their mutual interactions. We analyze five leading simulation platforms—ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL Multiphysics, OpenFOAM, SimFlow, and Altair FlightStream—across multiple dimensions including technical capabilities, usability, practical implementation considerations, and application-specific features. The paper establishes a systematic evaluation framework with specific criteria and metrics for assessing simulation tools, enabling researchers and engineers to select the most appropriate solutions for their specific requirements. Our analysis reveals that no single tool excels across all evaluation criteria, with each offering distinct advantages for different aspects of insect drone design. Mesh-based Navier-Stokes solvers provide the highest physical fidelity for detailed research and validation, while vorticity-based methods offer computational efficiency advantages for preliminary design exploration. The comparative evaluation includes quantitative assessment of computational resource requirements, licensing costs, and suitability for different use cases ranging from academic research to industrial development. The paper concludes with specific recommendations for tool selection based on application context, providing a valuable resource for advancing the development of next-generation biomimetic aerial vehicles.